2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

Regular Army Battalion.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has 1,563 recorded WW1 deaths for the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

BRADFORD, (VC.MC.MiDx3).Roland Boys.Brigadier General.General Staff,Commanding 186th Infantry Brigade,Late :-2nd Battalion,Durham Light Infantry.Hermies British Cemetery,Pas-de-Calais, France.30-11-1917.Age 25.Son of George Bradford of Darlington, County Durham, UK. Born 23-02-1892 at Witton Park. Educated at Epsom College, Surrey. He was one of 4 brothers, James Barker Bradford, Thomas Andrews Bradford & George Nicholson Bradford. He was commissioned into the 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force Battalion, in 1910 before transferring to the Regular Army in 1912 as a Second Lieutenant. His brother James Barker Bradford also died on service. His elder brother Lieutenant Commander George Bradford was also awarded the Victoria Cross, making them the brothers to both be awarded the Victoria Cross during World War 1. His brother Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford VC.RN of H.M.S. Iris II died on 23-04-1918 (Raid on Zeerugge) aged 31 and is buried at Blankenberge Town Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. A second brother, Second Lieutenant James Barker Bradford MC of "C" Company, 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, died 14-05-1917 aged 27 and is buried at Duisans British Cemetery Etrun, Pas-de-Calais, France.Stone Inscription :- "Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori". (From Horace's Odes :- It is sweet and proper to die for the fatherland).

Victoria Cross.

Mentioned in Dispatches.

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated the 24th Nov., 1916, records the following

"For most conspicuous bravery and good leadership in attack, whereby he saved the situation on the right flank of his Brigade and of the Division. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford''s Battalion was in support. A leading Battalion having suffered very severe casualties, and the Commander wounded, its flank became dangerously exposed at close quarters to the enemy. Raked by machine-gun fire, the situation of the Battalion was critical. At the request of the wounded Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford asked permission to command the exposed Battalion in addition to his own. Permission granted, he at once proceeded to the foremost lines. By his fearless energy under fire of all description, and his skilful leadership of the two Battalions, regardless of all danger, he succeeded in rallying the attack, captured and defended the objective, and so secured the flank."